Cinderella Man

“Cinderella Man”
Starring: Russell Crowe, Renee Zelwegger, Paul Giamatti, Craig Bierko, Paddy Considine, Bruce McGill
4 stars out of 4


Throughout Ron Howard’s new drama “Cinderella Man” I kept thinking of what I would rate the movie, that is my problem when I am viewing a film, I ask myself too early and often what I should rate it. I came to a truce with myself that I would rate it 3 and a half stars or 4 stars. But afterwards I realized how much of a good thing was shown in that 2 and a half hour timeslot that Ron Howard along with the wonderful cast had painted.

Everyone knows that this is the first mainstream Oscar contender of the year, and it has so many good reasons to be; Russell Crowe, Renee Zelwegger and Paul Giamatti all could be nominated respectfully, the Academy appreciates period pieces, and uplifting ones at that, take a look at 2003’s “Seabiscuit” if you need convincing.

The story is set in the depression era; it starts off in 1928 with a James J. Braddock victory, his manager is played by Joe Gould (Giamatti) who might be a shoe-in for best supporting actor, consistently supporting Braddock, they know each other to well to ever argue, and Gould is only looking for Braddock’s best interests, due to the fact that he knows his strengths. We witness Braddock’s family, his loving wife Mae (Zelwegger) who never goes to his fights or listens to them, and his 3 children Howard, Jay, and Rosie

Howard’s script fast forwards 4 years into the Great Depression, Braddock and his family are now tenants of a low scale, run down living style that the Depression ultimately depicts. Howard is key at making this seem real, the Depression is the main character of the story, it breathes suffering, despair, and family unity quickly through the Braddock family, and the entire nation. Jim and Mae’s kids soon begin to starve and freeze and there father will have none of that.

Now to Russell Crowe, the man who is criticized as being a punk, he seems to be portrayed as a “know it all” actor who cannot make a wrong move. Crowe’s creation, James J. Braddock, is the most decent character in the movie along with his wife; Braddock is so much of a family man that when he fails to pay for the heating bill he has to ask for help from the Emergency Relief Dept. of New Jersey, since they only grant him $19, he then travels as a respected beggar and asks Mr. Johnston (McGill) along with his friends for more money. This takes place after Braddock’s boxing license is stripped away from him by Johnston, mainly for putting on a boring fight that he got paid $50 for.


The story’s pacing is also important, it starts slow showing the downside of this family then reaches towards hope, when Gould gets Braddock 1 more fight, “it’s not a comeback he explains.” Braddock will fight for $250 against the number 2 contender that is in line for the championship. Sure enough Braddock wins that fight, and learns that not only has he surprised the nation; he has surprised himself and his family. One fight leads to another, those fight’s lead to Braddock’s chance to fight the world champion Max Baer, who had killed 2 men in the ring with his vicious blows.

Baer played by Craig Bierko is not in the movie that long, but his presence gets under the audience’s skin so much that you can’t help think of the genius in Ron Howard’s mind when making that casting call. The last fight is made with precision and craftsmanship, the editing is so slick that our eyes bounce everywhere excitingly.

Throughout “Cinderella Man” everything seemed perfect; there weren’t a lot of scenes that were irrelevant, every word spoken had meaning, especially by Crowe who could very well receive another Best Actor award come Oscar time.